Motion picture apparatus



July 12, 1938. F. CONRAD ET AL MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed May 14, 1930 July 12, 1938. I F, CONRAD AL 2,123,624

MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS Original Filed May 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2July 12, 1938. F. CONRAD ET AL MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS Original FiledMay 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I II Patented July 12, 1938 2,123,624-MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS Frank Conrad, Wilkinsburg, Pa., ChristianAalborg, Springfield, Mass., and Orville B. French, Prospect Park, Pa.,assignors to Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, acorporation of Pennsylvania Original application May 14, 1930, SerialNo.

452,252, new Patent 2,032,116, dated February 25, 1936. Divided and thisapplication Novem- 7 her 16, 1935, Serial No. 50,110

. 2 Claims.

Our invention relates to acousto-cinematographic apparatus and hasparticular relation to domestic equipment, the present application beinga division of our copending application,

5 vSerial No. 452,252, filed May 14, 1930, which on February 25,, 1936,matured into Patent No. 2,032,116.

In apparatus of this type, constructed according to the teachings of theprior art with which we are familiar, the screen and loud-speakerconstitute aseparate unit fromthe projector and its appurtenances. Thisarrangement of the equipment has the serious disadvantage that itnecessitates the use of lead wires that extend from the machine on oneside of the audience to the loud-speaker on the other side of theaudience.

The state of affairs thus occasioned by the two-unit system is not onlyundesirable from an 2o aesthetic viewpoint but,'in-a.room darkened forsuitable cabinet but also involves the construc-' tion of a machine thatmay be satisfactorily accommodated in a normally small cabinet. I It is,accordingly, an object of our invention to provideacousto-cinematographic equipment completely contained in a single-unit.

It is an ancillary object of our invention to provide acousto-cinematographic apparatus which, while constituting a complete singleunit, 'may be used in a two-unit system.

An additional ancillary object of our invention is to provide anacousto-cinematographicmachine of small and compact structure that shallbe smooth and silent in its operation.

' Still another object of our invention is to pro- 40 vide means forincreasing the throw of a light beam from the projection lens of acinematographic machine without materially increasing the distance fromthe lens to a screen, associated with said machine.

to manufacture.

v More specifically stated, it is an object of our 50 invention toprovide simply operable accustocinematographic equipment whereirithemachine is disposed in a collapsible cabinet equipped with a removabletranslucent screen and with a plurality of reflectors that coact todecrease the 55 ratio of the geometeric distance between screen andprojection objective to the optical distance between screen andobjective.

According to our invention, we provide, for

acousto-cinematographic apparatus, a cabinet ,having a plurality ofcompartments. The ma- 5 chine and a plurality of mirrors are disposed inone compartment and a loud-speaker in a second compartment separatedtherefrom. Ad acent to the machine compartment and movable creased, andthe dimensions of the cabinet remain unchanged.

We further provide a machine with a simple automatic threadingdevice andwith an intermittent movement that operates smoothly and 20 has a highratio of film-rest time to film-moving time.

The novel features that we consider characteristic of our invention areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inven- 25 tionitself, however, both as to its organization and its method ofoperation, together with ad- 'ditional objects and advantages thereof,will best be understood from the following description of a specificembodiment, when read in connection 30 with the accompanying, drawings,in which rangement in the equipment;

Fig. 3"'is a view, in perspective, of the bracket whereon the screen ismounted;

Fig. 4 is a view, in perspective, showing the acousto-cinematographicmachine that is used 40 with the equipment;

Fig. 5 is a view, in front elevation, showing the automatic threadingarrangement and the intermittent movement of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a view, in longitudinal section, of the picture gate; I

Fig. 7 is a view, in longitudinal section, of the sound gate;

Fig. 8 is a view, in front elevation, of the springs that cause the gateshoes to exert a resilient pressure on the film;

Fig. 9 is a view, in front elevation, showing a novel feature of thethreading arrangement;

Fig. 10 is a view, in perspective, showing the intermittent movement ofthe machine in detail;

Fig.11 is a view, in rear elevation, showing the power-transmissionelements of the machine, and

Fig. 12 is a view, in section, taken along the line XIIXII of Fig. 11,and showing theknob whereby the power-transmission elements may bemanually operated.

The apparatus shown in the drawing comprises a cabinet I equipped withan upper chamber 3, in which are mounted an acousto-cinematographicmachine 5 and an amplifier (not shown), and with a lower chamber 1, inwhich a loud-speaker (not shown), electrically coupled to the amplifier,is supported.

The cabinet I is provided with an opening 9 in the side facing thepicture-projection objective II, and an enclosure I3 which is open atthe top I5 and at the bottom IT projects from the opening 9. Theenclosure I3 is slidably supported within the upper chamber 3, and, whenit occupies its innermost position, it forms a compartment within whichthe machine 5 is contained. The end wall I9 of the enclosureI3, in thisposition, closes the opening 9 in the cabinet and constitutes a sectionof the end wall 2| of the cabinet.

In addition to the amplifier and the machine I 5, a plurality ofreflectors 23 and 25 are mounted in the upper stationary chamber 3. Thesmallest mirror 23 reflects the light from the projection objective IIto the larger mirror 25, which, in turn, reflects it to a still largermirror 21 mounted on the walls I9 and 29 of the movable enclosure I3.The latter reflects the light to a translucent screen 3| that forms thefront wall of the movable enclosure I3 and is slidably removabletherefrom.

By thus bending the projection light beam, a picture of normal size maybe obtained in a cabi-v net that is only slightly larger than a radiocabinet. It is to be noted that, with the present prevalence ofefficiency apartments; the dimensions of an entertainment device ofthe'nature herein discussed are a serious consideration.

It may, at times, be desirable to project a picture larger than the onethat is available in the cabinet. We have, therefore, provided anopening 33, in the end wall I9 of the movable. enclosure I3, that isnormallyclosed by an internally hinged door 35, constituting a sectionof the wall I9. When it is desired to project a large picture, thesmallest mirror 23 is removed or turned to an inactive positionand thedoor 35 is opened. The light from the projection lens II is projectedthrough the opening 33 and may be focused on a reflection screendisposed at any convenient distance from the cabinet.

The machine 5 comprises anupright bracket 31, cast in the form of acomparatively deep box, on the base of which are externally supported aplurality of film guides and film-advancing elements and within whichare mounted a pluralityof power-transmission elements. The upright plateis fastened to a shallow base plate 39 by bolts 4| traversing a lowerside 43 of the box 31 and screwed into a plurality of bosses 45 in thebase 39. The conducting leads that bring up the necessary electricalpower to the energy consuming elements of the machine are fastenedwithin the base.

A feed reel 41 and a take-up reel 49 are keyed to spindles 5| and 53'rotatably supported on brackets 55 and 57 fastened to bosses 59 and GIprojecting from the upright box 37.

The end of a film-roll 63 wound on the feed reel 41 is thrust into achannel formed between Y end.

As the film 63 is propelled through the mouth of the passage, it bendsunder its own weight and advances into a pocket formed between a con-8I, that is also curved upwardly at the end. The two sections 11 and 8|of the outer guide are separated and a free loop-reservoir 83 is thusformed between them above the inner guide 15.

Still reacting to the thrust of the sprocket wheel I3, the film 63advances in the space provided between the aperture plate 85 and theshoes 8'! of a picture gate 89. It is then grasped by a plurality ofintermittently actuated claws 9| and thrust against the inner surfaceof-the lower loop forming guide 93 that is movable relative to an innerstationary guide 95, as will be hereinalter described. 4

The film 63 is constrained by the guide 93 to reverse its motion and itis advanced upwardly from the end thereof into the opening providedbetween the shoes 91 and the aperture plate 99 of a sound gate IIJI. Itis to be noted that, in a loop-reservoir formed of two vertical legsmoving in substantially opposite directions, and a central horizontalportion, the impulses introduced by the intermittent claws are nottransmited into the vertical leg most remote from the claws. This-featinuation of the inner guide 19 and a long guide ture is ofconsiderable value in the present ma- .chine, since it eliminates thenecessity of an insulating sprocket wheel between the intermittent clawsand the picture gate.

After traversing the sound gate IOI, the film 63 advances between aninner guide I03 and the flanges I65 of a power-drven roller I01, and itsperforations are thrust into the 'path of the unfor its formation.

The lower loop-forming guide 93 is supported I on a tongue II5 that isbent over from the lower end of an elongated flat plate I II. The plateI I1 is equipped with a plurality of slots I I9 and is supported on aplurality of studs I 2| that traverse the slots I I9 and are fastened tothe upright casting 31 of the machine.

.A strip I23, fastened to the plate III above its center, supports, onits end, a double-end spring I25 that extends into a. plurality of slotsI21 milled in the outer margin of the guides 99 and I29 of the soundgate IIII. The ends I30 of the spring coact with notches |3I in theupper edges of the slots I21 to lock the plate III that supports the-loop former 93 in its uppermost position. The

notches |3I and the ends of the spring I25 that coact therewith are sorelated to each other that, by the exertion of a small vertical force onthe plate II'I the ends I36 of the spring are removed from the notchesI3I and the loop-forming guide 93 settles to its lowermost positionunder the action of gravity.

It is interesting to note that the inner guides 19, 95, I29 and I93 maybe made in one piece by bending a single metallic strip substantiallyinto a U-shaped configuration.

The shoes 91 and 91, in both the picture gate 99 and the sound gate I9Iare compressed against the film by a plurality of buttons I33, bent intothe ends of a. plurality of fingers I35 of forkshaped 'flat springs I31.The springs I31 are flanged at their lower ends and are bent over toform flanged tongues I39, whereby they are fastened to the inner guides95 and I29 adjacent to the gates.

- the buttons I33 to exert a pressure on the film 63 in the gates.Whenthe loop-forming guide 93 is in its uppermost position, the screwsI45 are not in contact with the springs I31, and the channels in thepicture gate 89 and the sound gate I 9i,

being no longer obstructed by the shoes 91, permit the passage of theleading end of the film that is being threaded into the machine.

The intermittent movement comprises a plurality of horizontal shafts I49and I5I the axes of which determine substantially a. vertical plane. Theshafts I49 and I 5I are rotatably supported in bosses (not shown)projecting from the upright casting 31 and the end of the upper shaftI49, which rotates at twice the angular velocity of the lower shaft, isborne up by a bracket I53 fastened to a boss I55 projecting inwardlyfrom the surface of the casting 31.

A counterbalanced crank I51 is mounted on the end of the upper shaft I49that projects through the casting 31 and is rotatable therewith, while ashutter I 59 and a cam I6I are similarly supported on the lower shaftI5I.

Pivotally supported on a pin I53 projecting from the crank I51, is ashort arm I85, and rigidly fastened to the arm I55 is a long lever I31.A plurality of claws 9| project substantially at right angles from onelower surface of the lever I91, while a yoke I 99, fastened to theremaining lower surface of the lever, engages the cam I9I- supthat it iswithin the scope of our invention to provide for ;;the rotation of thecrank at a greater angular speed than twice the speed of the cam if.such a procedure is found to be desirable.

Furthermore, we may add that the counterbalanced crank I51 tends toequalize the load that is sustained by the prime mover and,consequently, tends to eliminate vibrations of the system that areordinarily introduced by irregularities in the motion thereof.

I11 situated in a chamber I19 in a lower end of the bracket. Ittransmits the necessary power to drive the crank shaft I49 and the camshaft II through a plurality of gears I9I, I93, I95 and I91,

properly dimensioned for the purpose.

Milled integral with the shaft, at its upper end,

is a worm I99 that coacts with a gear wheel I9I to drive a horizontalshaft I 93 on one end of which the sprocket wheel 13, is mounted. 0n theremaining end of the shaft, a large gear wheel I95 is supported to coactwith a small gear wheel I 91, adjacent to it, to drive the shaft I99 onwhich the power-driven roller I91 is mounted. The pulleys 29I and 292,through which the take-up reel 41 -and the rewind are driven, aremounted on the remaining end of the shaft I99.

The main shaft "I may be manually rotated by a knob 293 of longitudinalC-section. The knob 293 is-fastened to a stud 295 traversing the uprightcasting 21 and from the lower end of which there projects a key 291adapted to engage a slot 299m the upper end of the main shaft I1 I. Acompression spring 2, interposed between the internal face of the cavity2I3 in the knob 293 and the surface of the casting 31, normally holdsthe stud 295 out of engagement with the shaft "I. On the other hand, thestud is prevented from being entirely ejected from the casting by theend of a set screw 2I5 that engages a shoulder 2I1 produced by anattenuation 2I9 in the stud 295.

The film in the picture and sound apertures is illuminated from a singlesource 22I. Direct light from the filament of the source 22I is pro-'jected through a lens 223 mounted in the upright bracket 31 and isdeflected to the picture aperture by a spherical reflector 225. Therefiector 225 and the lens 223 form an efflcient condensing system.

To illuminate the sound aperture, light from the filament is gathered bya spherical mirror 221 and reflected, through a lens 229in the plate 31,to a second spherical mirror 229 that brings it to a focus near theaperture. The two curved reflectors 221 and 229, together with lens 229,in this case, also form an efllcient condensing system. I

The sound track illuminated in the aperture is magnified by an objective23I and imaged on a slit 233 behind which a photocell (not shown) issituated.

Althoughwe have shown' and described certain specific embodiments of ourinvention, we are fully aware that many modifications thereof arepossible. Our invention, therefore, is not to be restricted exceptinsofar asis necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of theappended claims.

We claim as our invention:--

1. In film-handling apparatus, a plurality of film gates, each of saidgates including means for exerting a force of compression on the filmwithin said gates, means for supporting said gates at substantially thesame elevation in such manner that the film transmitted therethrqughmoves with its surface in substantially parallel planes, a U-shapedstrip mounted between said plates, a U-shaped plate, means forsupporting said U-shaped plate in a plurality of positions. at

varying distances from said U-shaped strip,

means for sliding said U-shaped plates from one I of said positions toanother of said positions, and

means, supported on said U-shaped plate and cooperating with said meansfor exerting a force 'ofcompression on said film strip, for releasingsaid force when said U-shaped plate is in a position nearest to said U-shaped strip and for impressing said force when said'U-shaped plate isin a position displaced at least a predeterminedsaid U-shaped plate in aplurality of positions at" varying distances from said U-shaped strip,

means for sliding said U-shaped plates from one of said positions toanother of said positions, means, supported on said U-shaped plate andcooperating with said means for exerting a force of compression on saidfilm-strip, for releasing said force when said 'U -shaped plate is in aposition nearest to said U-shaped strip and for impressing saidforcewhen said U-shaped plate' is in a position displaced at least apredetermined locking said U-shaped plate in the position nearest tosaid U-shaped'strip to permit the automatic threading of a film stripbetween said plate and strip, and means for supporting said U-shapedplate in a position further displaced from said U-shaped strip to permitthe formation of a loop reservoir in the film strip between said plateand strip.

FRANK CONRAD.

CHRISTIAN AALBORG. ORWLLE B. FRENCH.

distance from said U-shaped strip, means for 10

